Your 5 Minute Rundown of Projects, Upgrades, and Other News About Etherlink!
We’ve talked about what Etherlink is in the past, but just in case you are not familiar, here is the tl;dr:
”Etherlink is a cutting-edge Layer-2 solution, known as a “smart rollup,” built on Tezos and designed to be fully compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). This compatibility allows developers to deploy and operate Ethereum-based smart contracts on Etherlink and to work seamlessly with Ethereum languages like Solidity and Vyper. It also supports popular Ethereum tools, including wallets like MetaMask, enabling users to build and utilize applications just as they would on the Ethereum network.”
Even before its mainet beta launch, there were a lot of projects announced to build on Etherlink. So many that it has been hard to keep track of all the developments and news as we still have more projects announced almost every week. So in this article, I prepared a list with some of the news and developments that have happened since my last article about Etherlink.
Etherlink x Rarible
Although it’s not very recent, I think it’s important to mention that Etherlink already has its first NFT marketplace which is none other than Rarible. Users can now mint, sell, and buy their art on Rarible, along with many other NFTs like in-game assets from other Etherlink projects.
BattleRise
BattleRise, an engaging turn-based strategy RPG for mobile devices, has integrated with Etherlink, transforming all in-game assets into NFTs that can be traded on Rarible. Recently, they launched exclusive Founder Pass NFTs, offering players special in-game perks and benefits. For a deeper dive into BattleRise and its integration with Etherlink, don’t miss our previous article on the game!
Sugarverse
Sugarverse is planning to be a new Web3 gaming world built on Etherlink. With plans for five games and a focus on community-driven rewards, Sugarverse aims to bring blockchain benefits to millions of players, creating a transparent and engaging gaming experience.
Its first game, Sugar Match, is a match-3 puzzle game where players can use unique avatars, earn rewards, and trade in-game items as NFTs and is planned to launch in January, with the game beta possibly available in the next weeks. If you are interested in learning more about Sugarverse, don’t miss our Q&A article with the CEO and Co-founder of Sugarverse, Nikolay Mitev!
Undead Lunatics: The first PFP project on Etherlink by Mark Knol
Undead lunatics
In some more recent news, the Undead Lunatics PFP collection by Mark Knol dropped on Rarible last week, and of course, it sold out in just a couple of hours. This collection of 2000 generative Undead Lunatics marks the first ever PFP project on Etherlink so it might be worth checking out the secondary market for some undead gems!
Bifrost upgrade activated
Another recent development, more on the technical side, is the Etherlink “Bifrost” upgrade that was voted on by the Tezos bakers and activated last week. This upgrade introduced extended support for FA 2.1 tokens, improved internal transaction indexing compatible with tools like Blockscout, and optimized performance for faster computations.
The most anticipated feature though, was the inclusion of an audited FA token bridge for seamless integration of dApps and tokens between Tezos and Etherlink. In short, users can now transfer not only tez, but any Tezos token between the Tezos Layer 1 and Etherlink.
TzApac cohort 2 applications are now open!
Applications are now open for TzApac’s 2025 Fortify Labs 4th cohort! This Web3 startup studio supports builders on Tezos and Etherlink by offering personalized help, connecting them with potential investors, and giving access to a community of early adopters and testers. It’s a great chance for startups to grow and succeed in the Web3 space. If you’re planning to build a project, this is an opportunity you shouldn’t miss — definitely apply!
Etherlink may still be in beta, but it’s already buzzing with activity, with tons of projects building and launching on the platform. To keep this article concise, I couldn’t cover everything happening right now, like the fact that Transak is now live, offering a fiat on-ramp for $XTZ, or that AscendEX is the first CEX to enable deposits and withdrawals of $XTZ on Etherlink. IguanaDex, a decentralized exchange on Etherlink, is also up and running, along with Superlend which has gone live, aggregating the best options for lending and borrowing.
There’s so much more to come, so if you’re as excited about Etherlink’s growth as I am, make sure to stay connected. With new announcements and developments happening almost weekly, you won’t want to miss what’s next for this ecosystem!
What’s Brewing on Etherlink? was originally published in Tezos Commons on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
